Railway locomotive structure



8 Sheets-Sheet 1 mm 0C a QC m R A i o N o Q m g "on J. 0 "on 03 on Q mom I :T; i i r- I m/ 6 1 .3 %M\ M ATTORNEY April 1952 H. M. PFLAGERRAILWAY LQCOMOTIVE STRUCTURE Filed July 25, 1945 April 15, 1952 PFLAGER2,592,733

RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE STRUCTURE Filed July 25, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR- HARRY M. PFLAGER ATTORNEY April 15, 1952 H. M. PFLAGER2,592,733

RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE STRUCTURE Filed July 25, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR. HARRY M. PFLAGER QM @MA AT TOR NEY April 15, 1952 H. M.PFLAGER RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE STRUCTURE Filed July 25, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet4 R E :G m mF P Wu. M Y R R A H FIG] ATTO R NEY April 1952 H. M. PFLAGERRAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE STRUCTURE Filed July 25, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.IO

JNVENTOR. HARRY M. PF LAGER Q ATTORNEY April 15, 1952 H. M. PFLAGERRAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE STRUCTURE 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 25. 1945 IIIlklLll j P h JTi IITII l I l I I! ll 3 Q INVENTOR. HARRY [VLPFLAGER anM ATTORNEY .April 15, 1952 H. M. PFLAGER 2,592,733

RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE STRUCTURE Filed July 25, 1945 a Sheets-Sheet v "'4:92 a I lI/L:

FIG. I8. I i l I INVENTORZ g4 HARRY M. PFLAGER 9.5

BYQW W ATTORNEY A ril 15, 1952 H. M. PFLAGER RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVESTRUCTURE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed July 25, 1945 FIG. I9.

V/Xififi I:

INVENTOR- HARRY M. PFLAGER FIG. 20.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 15, 1952 2,592,733 RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE STRUCTUREHarry M. Pilager, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to General Steel CastingsCorporation, Granite City, 111., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationJuly 25, 1945, Serial No. 606,993

The invention relates to railway rolling stock and more particularly tolocomotive structure in which one or more steam turbines are operativelyconnected to the running gear.

In the usual steam locomotive, the driving wheels have the powertransmitted to them by means of reciprocating pistons and mainconnecting rods and side rods, thus requiring that inside journals beused and that the wheels be counterbalanced to take care'of therevolving weights on the crank pins and the forces due to reciprocationof the piston, piston rod, and the connecting. main crank and side rods;which construction is heavy and difiicult to maintain in service."

Heretofore, locomotives have been designed with-power units for one ormore wheel and axle units, such as steam turbines, engines withreciprocating pistons, or electric motors, and in other caseslocomotives have been designed with steam turbines to operate a jackshaft having a crank and with main rod connections between the crank onthe jack shaft and cranks on each driving wheel. Locomotives have alsobeen designed with the turbine mounted on the underframe and the driveshaft extending from the turbine and journalled. on the journal boxeswith a drive gear placed on the axle. This latter arrangement has theadvantage of not producing any unbalanced revolving forces on thedriving wheels which must be counterbalanced, as is the case of drivingwheels with cranks. Such an arrangement,;however, calls for a greatamount of unsprung weight on each axle.

The main object of this invention is to provide a turbine locomotivethat has a substantially rigid frame on which are mounted the turbineand the mechanism connecting same to the running gear of the locomotive,so that the turbine and the drive mechanism which transmits power fromthe turbine to the running gear will be securely maintained in theirnormal operating positions at all times, and to drive each driving wheelseparately so as to maintain a uniform driving torque on all axlesregardless of irregularities in the track, and

also to carry all these parts on the spring borne underframe.

Another object is to simplify the locomotive underframe structure and toprovide the same with the necessary elements for mounting the runninggear and turbine drive.

Another object is to connect the turbine drive to each of a plurality ofwheel and axle assemblies substantially independently of the other wheeland axle assemblies.

Another object is to combine the turbine and boiler support structure toprotect the turbine so as to maintain a more uniform operatingtemperature. i

These and other objects are attained by the structure illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, inwhich l 14 Claims. (Cl. 105-38) Figure 1 is aside view of a railway locomotive bed or underframe mounted upon afour-wheel forward truck, eight driver wheel and axle assemblies and asteam boiler, turbines, and operating mechanisms connecting the turbinesand the driver wheel and axle assemblies.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the forward portion ofthe locomotiveshown in Figure 1 drawn to an enlarged scale and better illustratingdetails of the construction.

Figure 3 is a top view of one longitudinal half of the portion of thelocomotive indicated in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section, the left hand side of thefigure comprising a section taken on the line 44 of Figure 2 and theright hand side of the figure comprising a section through the oppositehalf of the locomotive taken on the line 4a -4a of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 55 of Figure2.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a detail of another iorm of theinvention in which the turbines are mounted within the boiler support.

Figure 7 is a vertical transverse section through the structure shown inFigure 6 and is taken on the line 1-1. of Figure 8. V

Figure 8. is a top view and horizontal section taken on the line 88 ofFigure 7.

t Figure 9 corresponds to Figure 6 but illustrates another form of theinvention in which turbine frames or housings are combined with theboiler support.

Figure 10 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line lill0 ofFigure 9.

Figure 11 is 'a side elevation of the forward portion of a structureembodying another form of the invention in which the turbine ispositioned forwardly of the boiler support.

Figure 12 is a side elevation of the forward portion of a structureembodying another form of the invention in which a single turbine ismounted within the boiler support and is operatively connected tolaterally spaced operating drive shafts each connected to the drivers atone side of the locomotive.

Figure 13 is a top view of astructure shown in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line I4-l4 ofFigure 12.

Figure 15 is a side elevation of the forward portion of a structureembodying another form of the invention in which the drive shafts andturbines are positioned outwardly of the driving Wheels.

Figure 16 is a top view of one longitudinal half of the structure shownin Figure 15.

Figures 17 and 18 are vertical transverse sections taken on thecorresponding lines of Figure V Figure 19 is a top view of the forwardportion of a structure embodying another form of the locomotiveembodying a plurality of turbines are ranged in series longitudinally ofthe locomotive and each connected to a corresponding group of drivingwheels.

Figure 22 is a similar elevation illustrating another arrangement inwhich a single turbine is connected to all of the driving wheels at oneside of the locomotive but is positioned between two of the drivers atthe same side of the locomotive.

All forms of the invention embody the common feature of a locomotive bedor underframe adapted to be mounted upon a series of Wheel and axleassemblies and adapted to support a steam turbine operatively connectedto the wheel and 1 axleassernblies. Preferably the parts of theunderframe which position the axle boxes and mount the turbine andsupport the boiler and, carry the drive shaft comprise an integralstructure of cast and sidemembers consisting of hollow sections,

as best shown at 3 in Figure 5, and at the forward portion ofthe-locomotive these side members merge with the central member, asindicated at 3a in Figure 4. Transverse hollow connections 4 (Figure 3)are spaced apart longitudinally of the locomotive and unite members 2and 3 and accommodate the upper portions of the driving wheels 5 whichare mounted upon axles 6 provided with outside bearings and journalboxes I,

which are slidably received in pedestals 8 depending from member 3.Springs 9 yieldingly support the underframe on boxes I through a seriesof hangers iii and equalizers H, as are well known posed side by sideand here shown as having legs i8 resting directly upon the central boxsection member 2 and legs !9 resting on brackets 20 projecting outwardlyfrom the inwardly offset end portions 3a of side member 3.

Integral with central member '2 are upstanding parts 26 supporting adrive shaft 22 extending lengthwise of the locomotive and fitted with aplurality of worms 23 each associated with a worm wheel '24 forming partof a quill drive for a respective wheel and axle assembly. Forwardly"and rearwardly facing elements on parts 2| oppose cooperating elementson the shaft'and resist its tendency to move axially because of thethrust of the worms against the worm wheels. Each quill drive furthercomprises a. sleeve 25 surrounding the associated axle d and projections26 extending laterally from wheel 24 and fitted with thrust elements 21received in suitable openings in the corresponding driving wheel 5.Sleeve 25 is journalled in a bearing 28 integral with and a 4 dependingfrom underframe member [2 and providedwitha detachable cap 28a. Whencaps 28a and pedestal tie'bars 8a. are removed, the wheel and axleassemblies, including sleeves 25 for worm wheels 24, may be dropped fromthe underframe. Couplings 29 connect turbines I! to drive shaft 22 andconnect the successive sections of the drive shaft to each other. Asteam supply pipe 30 extends from boiler It to each turbine l1. Exhaustpassages 31, 32 lead from the turbines through boiler support [4, IE tothe smoke box portion of the boiler. Preferably, the portions 32 of theexhaust passages are formed integral with boiler support webs I4, l5 andmerge with each other, as best shown in Figure 4.

With this'arrangement, the cast underframe holds the turbines, driveshafts and their gearing, quill driving mechanisms and the wheel andaxle assemblies in desired relation to each other. The efficiency of asteam turbine may be utilized to advantage andv the difficulties usuallyassociated with the reciprocating piston type of locojmotives, includingcounterbalancing and 'cross balancing. of the drivers, is avoided.Outside bearings for the drivingiwheels may be used, thus providinggreater stability and rendering the. axle boxes, springs and associatedparts more accessible. The narrowing of the underframe at the forwardportion over the front truck and the rel atively high positioning of theturbines permit the use of a four-wheel engine truck with outsidejournal bearings, which isdiflicult or impossible toinstall with theusual reciprocatingtype of steam cylinders positioned at the sidesof the10- comotive and at the level of the driver axles.

Different embodiments of the principal features referred to above areshown in the other drawings. In that form of the invention shown inFigures 6-8 the underframe includeshollow longitudinal members 40corresponding to those previously described and upright walls 4|extending longitudinally of the underframe and upright walls 42"extending transversely of the underframe and an arcuate web 43 forming asupport for mounting the said end of the boiler 44. Upright walls 4| and42 are spaced to enclose the turbines 45 and exhaust passages 46integral with web 43 lead from the turbines to the smoke box exhauststack 41. The turbines are operatively connected to the drive wheels(not shown) by shafts 48 corresponding to the drive shafts previouslydescribed.

Transverse Walls 43 of the boiler support are provided with openings toaccommodate the application and removal of the turbines and theseopenings may be closed by removable cover plates 49 if so desired Theboiler support is reinforced by ribs 4la integral with walls 4| andextending downwardly and beyond the mounting for the turbines and mergewith the lower portions of underframe sections 40.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate another form of the invention in which theframes of'the turbines are formed integral with the walls 61 and 62 ofthe boiler support and with the exhaust passages 63 and all these partspreferably are cast with the main longitudinal hollow members 64 of theunderframe.

Figure 11 illustrates another form of the invention in which the turbine10 is placed forwardly of the boiler support H and the turbine shaft 12extends from the turbine along side the boiler support, where it entersa transmission or clutch box i3 arranged to deliver power from I shaft12 to a driver operating shaft 14. The

underframe longitudinal members include pads I5 and I1 for mounting theturbines and the clutch boxes and the boiler support walls II includeintegral exhaust passages I8.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 12-14, a single turbine80, larger than those previously described, is mounted centrally of theunderframe 8| and is enclosed by the boiler support upright walls 82integral with the underframe and having detachable side walls 83providing for the application and removal of the turbine laterally ofthe underframe. The single turbine shaft 80 leads into a centrallypositioned transmission mechanism 85 positioned at the rear of theboiler support and provided with gearing to laterally spaced driveshafts 86 mounted on the underframe and operatively connected to thedrive wheels.

In all of the above described structures the drive shafts are positionedinwardly of the wheels. Figures 15-18 illustrate another form of the invention in which the drive shafts are positioned outwardly of thewheels. In this structure the underframe 90 includes a center hollowportion, as previously described, and hollow wheel pieces 9| at theinner sides of the wheels and another hollow side member 92 positionedoutwardly of the wheels and provided with depending parts 93, forjournalling stub shafts 94, which mount worm wheels 95 operativelyengaging the drivers 95. Parts 91 extend upwardly from side mem ber 92and form bearings for the drive shaft 98 and end thrust bearings for theworms 99.

The turbines I00 are supported upon brackets IOI formed integral withthe underframe, similar to the brackets shown in Figure 4, but extendinglaterally of the underframe a greater distance to accommodate the widerspacing of the turbines.

,Figures 19 and illustrate another form of the invention in which all'ofthe assemblies of driving axles H0 and their wheels III are actuated bya single turbine H2 and drive shaft I I3. The turbine H2, itstransmission H4 and, the drive shaft H3 are positioned at one side ofthe longitudinal center line of the locomotive and the worm wheels H5associated with thedrive shaft worms I are nearer to the driving wheelsI I I at one side of the locomotive than the driving wheels at theopposite side of the locomotive. Each worm wheel is part of a quilldrive structure, including a sleeve I I6 journalled in a bearing I 11formed integral with the central portion H8 of the underframe andsupplemented by a removable cap H9. Each quill drive also includes adisk I20 fixed to the corresponding axle H0 and adapted to be engaged byprojections I2I on the corresponding worm wheel I I5.

With this arrangement and the corresponding narrowing of the drivemechanism, the driving axles maybe provided with inside journal bearingsI22, thus distinguishing this structure from those previously described.This makes possible the use of a narrower underframe and the sidemembers I23 are shown as of channel section instead of box section as inthe structures previously described.

Figure 21 illustrates another form of the invention in which a pluralityof turbines I and I3I are arranged in series longitudinally of thelocomotive, each being connected to an individual group of drivers I32and I33 respectively. A steam supplyline I34 leads from the boiler I35to the turbines and an exhaust passage I36 leads from the turbines tothe smokebox (not shown). In

this arrangement, the turbine I30 is spaced substantially from the frontend of the locomotive and corresponding boiler support, the drive shaftI31 associated with each turbine is substantially shorter than in thearrangement previously described, and the individual turbines aresmaller than where a single turbine is provided for all of the drivingwheels at each side of the locomotive or for all of the driving wheeland axle assemblies. The underframe I38 includes integral portions I39for mounting the turbines, and portions I40 for journalling the driveshafts and resisting the thrust of the drive shaft worms I4I..Preferably the underframe will include a boiler support (not shown)corresponding to those previously described.

Figure 22 illustrates another arrangement in which a single turbine I50is provided for all the drive wheels l5| at one side of the locomotivebut is positioned substantially rearwardly from the front end of thelocomotive and betwen two of the driving wheels to which it isconnected. With this arrangement, drive shafts I52 and I53 extend inopposite directions from the turbine. In other respects, the structurecorresponds to the left hand turbine arrangement shown in Figure 21.

All of the structures described above embody one or more of the generalobjects set forth in the introductory portion of the specification, andit is to be understood that these detailed structures are illustrativeonly and that the arrangements may be varied other than as shown anddescribed. The exclusive use of thosemodifications of the inventioncoming within the scope of the claims is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a railway locomotive, an underframe with fixed pedestals, a seriesof wheeled axles having journal boxes at the outer sides of the wheelsand slidable vertically in said pedestals, a spring structure supportingsaid underframe from said wheels, a drive for each wheeled axleincluding a worm wheel journalled in said underframe and having avertically flexible operative engagement with the adjacent wheeled axlemounted on the underframe, and means for driving said worm wheelscomprising a turbine with drive shaft mounted on the underframe withworm connection to said worm wheels.

2. In a railway locomotive underframe con structed and arranged to bemounted on a series of driving wheel and axle assemb1ies,side membersextending longitudinally of the underframe over all of said assembliesand provided with depending pedestals each adapted to receive and mountone end of one assembly, a structure for supporting the underframe loadextending longitudinally of the underframe intermediate and spaced fromsaid side members, and transverse members merging with said structureand side members, parts of the underframe being aligned with eachpedestal transversely. of the underframe for mounting a drive shaftextending lengthwise of the underframe for operative connection with aplurality of the assemblies.

3. A railway locomotive underframe as described in claim 2, whichincludes elements associated with the drive shaft mountings and adaptedto resist axial thrust of a drive shaft supported on said mountings.

4. A railway locomotive underframe as described in claim 2 in which theintermediate load supporting structure includes mountings for quilldriving devices aligned with the transversely of the underframe.

5. In a railway locomotive underframe constructed and arranged to bemounted, at least in part, on a plurality of driving wheel and axleassemblies, a series of elements along the underframe for supporting a'steam boiler, a support near one end of said series of boiler supportele-. mentsfor supporting a fire box, a part near the other end of saidseries of boiler support elements for supporting a steam engine, partsalongside'said series of boiler support elements for mounting a driveshaft extending from-said steam engine transversely of the axles of saidassempedestals blies, and parts alongside said. series of boiler 6. Arailway locomotive main frame including rigid parallel spaced membersextending longitudinally of the frame, pedestals depending from one ofsaid members for slidably receiving driving wheel and axle assembliesmovable vertically relative to the underframe, drive shaft mountingson-the other of said members, above the level of the tops of saidpedestals and spaced longitudinally of the underframe, mountings on thelatter of said members below the level of the tops of said pedestals formechanisms. oper-atively connecting said assemblies to the drive shaft,and a. mounting on the frame in substantial alignment with said driveshaft mountings for a shaft-operating engine, said members, pedestalsand mountings forming integral parts of said underframe.

7. In a railway locomotive, a plurality of driving wheels, axlestherefor, axle bearing boxes mounted on said axles, springs onsaid boxesand a locomotive rigid main frame carried on said springs,'a drivingshaft extending transversely of said 'axles and positioned inwardly ofthe locomotive from said wheels and journaled in aligned relativelyfixed mountings on said frame adjacent all of said axles, and a flexibledriving connection directly made between said shaft and each of saiddrivingwheels independently of the wheel axle and accommodating relativevertical movement of the drive shaft andthe driving wheels. 7

8. Ina railway locomotive frame, a main load carrying member extendingthroughout a major portion of the length of the frame, a relativelyshort member extending longitudinally of the frame and spaced outwardlyfrom said main member, one of said members being provided with aplurality of spaced axle, box receiving pedestals, andthe other of saidmembers being provided with drive shaft bearings inwardly of the framefrom said pedestals at one side of the frame and aligned longitudinallyof the locomotive and adjacent each of said pedestals.

9. A railway locomotive frame as described in claim 8 in which themember provided with drive shaft bearings also is provided with a driveshaft engine mounting.

10. In a railway locomotive, a plurality of driving wheel and axleassemblies, springs thereon, an underframe mounted on said springs andcomprising side memberswith depending pedestals associated with saidassemblies, 2. loadsupporting portion of the underframe extendinglongitudinally thereof intermediate and spaced from said side members,and transverse frame members merging with said portion and side members,parts of the underframe being aligned transversely of the underframewith each pedestal, a drive shaft extending lengthwise of the locomotiveand journaled on the underframe, and individual connections between saiddrive shaft and said assemblies. I

11. In a railway locomotive u'nderframe, pedestals constructed toslidably mountwheel and axle assemblies, structure forming an upwardlyfacing boiler support spaced longitudinally of the underframe from saidpedestals and forming axle assemblies, a rigid boilersupport spaced fromsaid pedestals, rigid brackets extending out wardly of the underframeabreast of said boiler support and forming an engine mounting alongsideof said support, rigid bearings for a drive shaft spaced apartlongitudinally of the underframe adjacent to said pedestals and tosaidengine mounting, and rigid mountings adjacent said bearings foroperating mechanisms 'connecting the assemblies and the shaft.

14. In a railway locomotive, an underframe with fixed pedestals, aseries of wheeled axles having journal boxes at the outer sides of thewheels and slidable vertically in said pedestals. spring structuresupporting said underframe from said wheels, a drive for each wheeledaxle including a worm wheel journalled in said under-- REFERENCES CITEDI The following references are of record 'in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 364,881 Wood June 14, 18871,444,952 Cowin Feb, 13, 1923 1,534,275 Leathers Apr. 21, 1925 1,582,698Siegfried Apr, 27, 1926 1,757,242 Fraser May 6, 1930 1,850,290 SchneiderMar. 22, 1932 1,883,357 Fageol Oct. 18, 1932 2,024,688 Gray Dec. 17,1935 2,070,895 Gray Feb. 16, 1937 2,272,679 Ostermann Feb. 10,- 19422,527,281 Varcoe Oct. 24;,1950

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 771,074 France July 16, 1934 76,762Switzerland May -1, 1918

